Mail box



Jan. 2, 1923.

. 1,440,529. R. E. 'CARLSON ET AL.

MAIL BOX.

men AUG-20, 192x.

li atentetl 2, 1.923.

- Unonrn chanson auto JOHN M. enas'rua, or STLPAUL, MINNESbTiAb;

" MAIL BOX. I

' Application filed August 20, 1921. SerialNo. 494,028.

same or remove the mail box, but is easily.

opened and closed by the person or persons supposed to have access to, same. a

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top View of our improved mail box. I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the mail box looking from right to left in Fig. 2 and showing a portion of a wall to which the box attached; I

4 is an edge view of the lower left hand portion of Fig. 2 showing the hinged bottom swung down.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view as on line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, (3 is the receptacle of our mail box and is in general shape a normally vertically arranged sheet metal box having an integral top hood 7 with a slot 8 in its top for inserting mail. 9 is a slide normally resting; on hood 7 and covering slot 8; it has a front wing 9* and may be hinged on a pintle rod 10 mounted in bearings 11 on the hood 7. One or more coil springs 12 on said rod, each with one end 13 on the lid and the other end 14 on the hood and said ends being under tension cause the lid to stay closed on hood 7.

15 is a glass or other transparent panel and 16 a name plate holder on the front of the box. 17 is a preferably that spring on edge or side of the box secured to it as t 18, its free top end arranged to be sprung the large endZl of the aperture adapted to be passed over the head of'a nail or screw 22 after which the box is pulled down so that it hangs on the shank of thenail or screw securing the upper part of the boX to a wall :23 (see Fig. i i 1 Ii The bottom end ot receptacleb is closed by. a hinged bottom 24: which is hinged; by its rear lower edge 6" on; a wire 6 inlaid in a head 6* permitting the bottom-to be swung.

down (as in Figs. 3 and 4) the downward drop of same being limitediby a slotted segment secured to flange 24rd bottom-and guided on an inwardly projecting pin26 in one of the side walls of the receptacle. The

other end of bottom 24 has a catch 27 preferfiblYdl'lflClG of fiat metal, its lower end soldered or otherwise secured to flange 24* and its upper end bent, inwardly and down atan angle. then bent back to form a shoulder 28 (see Fig. 5 Said shoulder is engagedby the lowerend or hook 29 of a vertically disposed flat spring bar 29 the upper end'of which is secured asat 30 to the'side' wall of receptacle 6.- At a point intermediate the ends of the fiat spring 29"is secured as at 31 a push button 32 projecting through a flanged opening 33 in the side wall of the receptacle. Inward pressure on said button disengages said hook orcatch 29 ot'the spring 29 from shoulder 28 of catch 27, per

mitting hinged bottom 24 to swing down and operator has easy access to the mail within the box; Opening of the bottomQ is automatic being caused by another vertically arranged preferably fiat spring 34, the

upper end. of which is secured as at 35 to rear wall of the receptacle and the lower end bent as at 36 and pressing upon the inner'side of the bottom 2 2 near its front edge. When bottom 2% is released as described spring 34 assumes the position 86* shown dotted in Fig. 3, pressing the bottom to the inclined position. 24.

For locking our device a rim lock 37 of suitable size is secured as at 38 to the inner side of the wall of the receptacle and adjacent spring 34, a hole 39 being provided for insertion of key 40. Manipulation of the key causes lock bolt 37 to project across spring arm 34: (see Figs. 3and 5) positively preventing the latter from being operated by push button and consequently making it catch 28.01 the hinged bottom. 41 are holes in the lower portion of rear impossible to disengage it from the spring vwall of thereceptacle for'insertion of nails 'or screws d2 to llOlCl'. lOWGI end of mail box properly against wall 23 after the upper portion has already beensecured to wall as previously'described. This method of securing mail box to wallleaves no exposed. fastening means and consequently makes it diflicult to remove it from the well;

From the above description it will be understood that in the use of the box the top lid 9 is raisedby taking hold of its upturned Wing 9 the letters are dropped'into the boxand the wing released to let springs 12"close the; lid. Packages may be piled upon the lid where they are'retained by the wing 59*. Newspapers are placedet 19 as stated. In removing mail fronrtbc box the button 31 is pressed, whereupon the bot,-

tom 24 is automatically thrown to the in clined position leaving the letters standing at'anincline and with the lowerends resting on it'close by-the front guard 24*, about as indicated'bydotted lines L in Fig. 4-,

where the operator can easily reach and remove'them. After such removal he simply swings or-pushes the bottom upward to make the :catches 2728 and 29 snap into engagement. Only in localities where there is danger of mail thieves the lock 37 and its keys '{lOneed to be used and is then applied as already described.

Having thus'describe d our invention what we claim is:

1.-A'mail box having afvertically dis? posed hollow body with an inlet aperture for emme letters in its top and a hinged bottom adapt ed-to be folded downwardly to an inclined position to let the mail out, and means tor holding. said bottom inclosed position, and

means for securing theibox to a wall or other vertical ob eot, means for stopping the bottom at a predetermined incline and means i for automatically opening the bottom to the inclined. position when released means holding it closed. I -l 2. The structure specified in clain i 1, said means for holding the bcttom closed coinfrom the prising a catch on the bottom and a catch engaging therewith and secured atwthe inner side of the box, the latter catch being resilient and having a press button protruding through an aperture in one side of the box. a

The structure'specified in claim 2, and

a locksecnred in the box near the resilient catchand arranged to 'lo'ck the catch-when sov desired, said lock havingakey hole and a removable keyi'or "same nearthe press button.

' 4:. The structure specified in claim 1., said bottom being hinged at its "rear-edge and havingnear itsfront edge a rim orguard to prevent accidental escape of the letters ;when the bottom is suddenly swungjto as I 

